Personal Details :
- Full Name: Kim Yu-jin (김유진)
- Stage Name: UEE (also stylized as U-ie)
- Date of Birth: April 9, 1988
- Place of Birth: Daejeon, South Korea
- Height: Approximately 173 cm
- Nationality: South Korean
- Profession: Actress, Singer, YouTuber
- Former Group: After School (2009–2017)
- Sub-unit: A.S. Red
- Agency: Lucky Company (2021–present)
- YouTube Channel: Started in 2024 (Lifestyle and Vlog content)
- Father: Kim Sung-kap (Former KBO League baseball player and coach)
- Known For: “My Only One”, “Marriage Contract”, “Live Your Own Life”
Social Media Presence :
- YouTube: Uee Official Channel
- Instagram: @uee_lover
- Agency Profile: Lucky Company – UEE
Career Overview :
Early Years & Music Debut
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2007–2008: Trained and poised to debut with Good Entertainment’s project group Five Girls (alongside future stars like G.NA, Hyosung, Yubin), but the group disbanded due to financial issues .
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April 9, 2009: Debuted as a second‑generation member of the K‑pop girl group After School with the digital single “Diva” .
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Also participated in project group 4Tomorrow, collaborating with Gain (Brown Eyed Girls), HyunA, and Seungyeon (KARA) .
Transition to Acting (2009–2016)
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Acting Debut (2009): Made her first appearance in the historical drama Queen Seondeok as the teenage Mi‑Sil , followed by a supporting role in You’re Beautiful, gaining attention for her performance
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Rise in Popularity:
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Ojakgyo Family (2011–12): Won “Best New Actress” at both the Baeksang Arts Awards and the KBS Drama Awards
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Birdie Buddy (2011): Led in the pre-produced golf-themed drama on tvN
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Other notable dramas include Jeon Woo‑chi (2012), Golden Rainbow (2013), High Society and Hogu’s Love (2015), Marriage Contract (2016), where her role was critically acclaimed and landed her the MBC Drama Awards “Best Actress” in a special project
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Post–After School: Acting Focus (2017–Present)
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May 31, 2017: Graduated from After School and left Pledis Entertainment after eight successful years
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2017: Signed with Yuleum Entertainment; starred in Manhole (KBS fantasy comedy)
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2018–2019 hiatus:
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My Contracted Husband, Mr. Oh (2018) and then My Only One (2018–19): her latter drama achieved massive ratings (up to 49%) and earned her multiple acting awards
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July 2019: Joined King Entertainment, continuing to expand her acting roles
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2020: Ventured into variety shows (I Live Alone, SF8: Love Virtually, Omniscient Interfering View), and featured in the medical‑fantasy drama Ghost Doctor (2022) starring Rain and Kim Bum
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March 2021: Signed with Lucky Company; continues to star in dramas and variety shows
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2023–2024: Leads KBS2’s weekend drama Live Your Own Life, for which she also launched a YouTube channel sharing personal and behind‑the‑scenes content
Awards & Recognitions
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Baeksang & KBS Best New Actress (Ojakgyo Family)
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MBC “Best Actress” (Marriage Contract)
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KBS Excellence & Best Couple Awards (My Only One)
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Celebrated for her intense dedication—including drastic dieting for roles—and consistently ranked among Forbes Korea’s “most hardworking idols” early in her career
Personal Life & Interests :
- Uee was born on April 9, 1988, in Daejeon, South Korea.
- Her father, Kim Sung-kap, is a former professional baseball coach, which influenced her love of sports.
- She was a competitive swimmer in high school and once ranked high in national competitions.
- Uee is known for her healthy lifestyle and fitness routines, often sharing her diet and exercise tips on shows and social media.
- She has openly spoken about struggling with extreme dieting during her idol days and now advocates for healthy living.
- Uee enjoys cooking and often showcases her skills on variety shows.
- She values privacy and has stated in interviews that she prefers quiet time at home over the nightlife scene.
- In her free time, she enjoys reading, walking, watching movies, and spending time with family and close friends.
- She maintains close friendships with former After School members and frequently supports their projects.
- Uee is also active in charity events and has quietly donated to several causes over the years.
Net Worth :
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$21 million (2024 estimate) – IdolNetWorth and NetWorthList both list this figure.
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$25.4 million (2025 projection) – PeopleAi’s “net worth score” shows this gradual growth .
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$10 million – NetizensChoice Magazine estimates around $10M as of 2025 .
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$2–5 million – SocialesArea, Kpopwall, and CelebsMoney all provide a more conservative range
Awards & Achievements :
- 2009 MBC Entertainment Awards – Best Newcomer (Variety – Female) for We Got Married
- 2009 SBS Gayo Daejeon – New Artist Award (with After School)
- 2010 Mnet 20’s Choice Awards – Hot Body Female
- 2010 Style Icon Awards – Female Idol Style Icon
- 2011 KBS Drama Awards – Best New Actress for Ojakgyo Family
- 2012 Baeksang Arts Awards – Best New Actress (TV) for Ojakgyo Brothers
- 2013 MBC Drama Awards – Excellence Award (Special Project) for Golden Rainbow
- 2015 SBS Entertainment Awards – Best Teamwork for Fists of Shaolin Temple
- 2016 Grimae Awards – Best Actress for Marriage Contract
- 2016 MBC Drama Awards – Top Excellence Award (Special Project Drama) for Marriage Contract
- 2018 KBS Drama Awards – Excellence Award (Actress) for My Only One
- 2018 KBS Drama Awards – Best Couple Award (with Lee Jang-woo) for My Only One
- 2018 KCA Consumer Day Awards – Best Drama Actor for My Only One
- 2019 Korea First Brand Awards – Actress of the Year
- 2023 KBS Drama Awards – Top Excellence Award (Actress) for Live Your Own Life
- 2023 KBS Drama Awards – Popularity Award (Actress) for Live Your Own Life
- 2023 KBS Drama Awards – Best Couple Award (with Ha Jun) for Live Your Own Life
Fun Facts :
- Uee’s real name is Kim Yu-jin (김유진).
- Before debuting with After School, she trained under Good Entertainment with future stars like G.NA and Yubin.
- She was a nationally ranked swimmer during her school days.
- Uee gained attention early on for her “honey thighs,” a popular beauty standard in South Korea at the time.
- She’s known for her eating scenes in dramas—often praised for looking natural and relatable.
- She lost over 8kg for her role in Marriage Contract, showcasing intense dedication to her craft.
- Uee has appeared on multiple variety shows like I Live Alone and Law of the Jungle.
- She starred in the high-rating weekend drama My Only One, which peaked at nearly 50% viewership.
- Uee launched a personal YouTube channel in 2023 to connect with fans and share her daily life.
- Despite her idol past, she’s now primarily known and respected as a full-time actress.